约拿书［第一章］
Book of Jonah 1
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约拿书 第一章 |Book of Jonah 1【神爱世人呼召人】
28/02/2023
旧约书卷一般上都只是关乎以色列人的事，但是《约拿书》却让我们看到神的心，原来神也注视着犯罪的外邦人，也要对外邦人说话。
一、神爱世人显关注（拿1:1-2）
世人的罪恶来到某个程度，竟让神要特别差派选民的先知去发声宣告审判！由此可见，神的心不只是顾念自己的子民，而是注视着全世人。无所不知的神当然也知道这罪恶之城会因此而悔改，因此这句话正显出神爱世人的心。
二、人心自我勿从神（拿1:3）
约拿身为神的先知代言人，如今神的指示不同于他自己的想法，约拿不但不肯听神的，而且还故意往反方向逃离，这是何等自我和悖逆不是吗？反省我们自己是否也是如此呢？
三、神兴风浪制服人（拿1:4-8）
1.谁能躲避神的呼唤呢（V4）
神有呼唤，人能不从吗？全地都到神手中，神能顺水推舟助人前进，能兴风作浪阻拦前行。你能躲避神的呼唤吗？恐怕你的未来将困难重重。
2.灾难之中各自求神明（V5-6）
在灾难面前，人都显得无助，于是人就会求告各人所以为的神明。灵魂与身体都已经沉睡的约拿也因此被船长给唤醒。既是不认识神的船长才也没放过任何可能找到问题根源的机会。人何尝不是在绝境中才找到神吗？
3.人的举动本有神掌控（V7-8）
“掣签”是一种对万有之中有掌大权之神的信念，哪怕这些人还不认识耶和华神，但是他们的信念也真的让他们经历神。最终他们找到了问题的关键人物，并且按着解决问题的方向前进。
四、人的硬心神应付（拿1:9-12）
1.自认敬畏全能神（V9）
人就是在悖逆神的状态中仍然认为自己是敬畏神的人？这是自我感觉良好的人之通病，你有这现象吗？
2.众人受教心畏惧（V10-11）
众人得知约拿是神的先知，是他的悖逆才导致这场危机，于是纷纷寻求神的先知提供答案。我们若是敬畏神的人，往往在灾难面前，我们就会成为可以指引方向的人。
3.宁死不屈何顽固（V12）
这位先知何等的顽固悖逆不是吗？对神宁死不屈！明知被丢下大海是死定了，但他认为就是死，也不愿去到罪恶之人的城市传扬“福音”。这是民族尊严或者个人的固执呢？真是不知天高地厚！
五、祸患威吓人求主（拿1:13-16）
人即使得知解决问题的方案之后，还是会尝试用自己的方法；直到真的都无效之后，才会采用“属灵”的方法。这么一来，风浪果然平静了。于是大家看到神的作为，于是众人都对神肃然起敬，并向耶和华献祭，意思说都信了主；这是何等荣耀的结果不是吗？
总结：生命之后神接手（V17）
众人所能看到的是约拿葬身大海，且不知原来神掌管接下来的每一步。神所要使用的大鱼就在此时登场了。这事正告诉我们要相信，万事神掌权，哪怕是众人和自己都看到必死无疑，我们要坚信到底啊！
Jonah 1: God loved the world and called the people
GK611 Morning Devotion
28/02/2023
Speaker: Rev Tan
Introduction: God is the Lord of all the earth!
The books of the Old Testament are generally only about the Israelites, but the Book of Jonah allows us to see the heart of God. It turns out that God also looks at the sinning Gentiles and wants to speak to them.
1. God loves the world and shows His concern (Jonah 1:1-2)
The sinfulness of the world has reached a certain level, so much so that God has to send a special prophet to the elect to pronounce judgment! From this, we can see that God’s heart is concerned not only with his own people but with the whole world. The omniscient God certainly knows that this sinful city will repent, and because of this, hence this sentence shows God’s love for the world.
2. The self-centred human heart does not obey God (Jonah 1:3)
As God’s prophet and spokesperson, Jonah has God’s instructions different from his own thoughts. Not only did Jonah refuse to listen to God, but he also deliberately fled in the opposite direction. Isn’t this selfish and rebellious? Do we reflect on ourselves as well?
3. God raises storms to subdue people (Jonah 1:4-8)
(1) Who can escape from the calling of God (V4)
God has a calling, can man not obey? The whole earth is in the hands of God, and God can push the boat along the water to help people advance, and can stir up wind and waves to hinder their progress. Can you escape God's calling? I'm afraid your future will be difficult.
(2) During disasters, each seeks their own gods (v5-6)
In the face of disasters, people are helpless, so people will call on what they think of as gods. Jonah, whose soul and body had fallen asleep, was awakened by the captain. Neither did the captain who knew God miss any chance that he might find the source of the problem. Didn’t men find God only when they are in desperate situations?
(3) Man’s actions are originally controlled by God (V7-8)
“Drawing lots” is a kind of belief that there is a God who holds power in all things. Even though these people don’t know Jehovah God yet, their belief really makes them experience God. In the end, they found the key person of the problem and moved in the direction of solving the problem.
4. God will deal with the hardness of man’s heart (Jonah 1:9-12)
(1) Self-confessed to fear Almighty God (V9)
Do people still think they are God-fearing people even in the state of rebelling against God? This is a common problem for people who feel good about themselves. Do you have this phenomenon?
(2) Everyone is taught and afraid (V10-11)
Everyone learned that Jonah was a prophet of God and that it was his disobedience that caused the crisis, so they all sought answers from the prophet of God. If we are God-fearing people, we will be the ones who can guide the direction when we are faced with disasters.
(3) Rather die than surrender and be stubborn (V12)
How stubborn and rebellious this prophet was, wasn't he? He would rather die than surrender to God! Knowing that being thrown into the sea is a certain death, but he thinks it is just death, and he does not want to go to the city of sinful people to spread the "gospel". Is this nation’s dignity or personal stubbornness? Really ignorant!
5. Calamity threatens people to pray to the Lord (Jonah 1:13-16)
Even after people know the solution to the problem, they will still try to use their own methods; they will not use "spiritual" methods until they really fail. As a result, the wind and waves calmed down. Then everyone saw God’s deeds, and everyone respected God and offered sacrifices to Jehovah, saying that they all believed in the Lord. What a glorious result, isn’t it?
Conclusion: After Life God Takes Over (V17)
All the people can see is that Jonah has been buried in the sea, and they don't know that God is in charge of every next step. At this time, the big fish that God will use appears on the scene. This incident tells us to believe that God is in control of all things, even if everyone and ourselves sees that we must die, we must firmly believe in it to the end!